International Biotechnology Centre

The cross-disciplinary nature of the Centre facilitates the coordinated integration of the appropriate skill sets, expertise and knowledge across the Science Faculty

Welcome to the Industrial Biotechnology Centre at Kent

In January 2016 the Centre for Molecular Processing (CMP) changed its name to the Industrial Biotechnology Centre (IBC).

Molecular Processing encompasses the mechanisms and cellular requirements that influence disease states, cellular processes and the synthesis of therapeutic agents and biomedicines from biological systems (e.g. bacterial, yeast, mammalian systems). Kent has a long and successful history of research in these areas. The Centre builds upon Kent strengths in Molecular Processing by integrating and linking the expertise and know-how at Kent to address molecular processing research in areas that cannot be addressed by traditional departments or groups alone. The cross-disciplinary nature of the Centre facilitates the coordinated integration of the appropriate skill sets, expertise and knowledge across the Science Faculty at the interface between biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematical science, computing science and pharmacy to address cross-disciplinary science at both the basic and industrially applied level.

Cancer is the 2nd most frequent cause of death in the industrialised world. Despite substantial improvements over the last decades, the prognosis remains unacceptably poor for a significant fraction of cancer patients. Particularly, the situation remains grim for patients suffering from metastasised disease. Therefore, effective systemic therapies are needed to improve therapy outcomes. A collection of drug-resistant cancer cell lines from different cancer entities have been established and is available online.

The Centre for Molecular Processing is now running a new interdisciplinary MSc programme focused on providing advanced academic training in the cellular and molecular processes that relate to the production of biomedicines for use in healthcare. This is coupled with rigorous practical training in the design, production and characterisation of biomolecules using state-of-the-art biotechnological and bioengineering analytical and molecular technologies.